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I've never had pr food and it was amazing! The owners were so nice and got me samples so I could decide what I was getting. The pernil was juicy and the potato salad delicious, i felt like i was on a really especial occasion, like a holiday, that's how id describe the food I got. I also had alcapurrias and a coconut soda that was delicious and refreshing. It was a sunny day and the music they were playing was cool, made the whole vibe 10/10
Service is great.. staff is very attentive & friendly. The location is chill but most importantly the food is banging!! You don't find many places now a days that cook from the heart. They sure do!
Every time I've wanted to eat here they're closed on those days, so when my friends wanted to eat out, I convinced them to come to El Coqui and no regret whatsoever (although the food coma afterwards may disagree with me. The owner is super nice too and was nice to hear his passion for his culture and exuberance at me being familiar with Puerto Rican food. It definitely translates into his food. We ordered a lot to sample, but I would definitely get the pernil and the tostones. Smashed fried plantains that are lightly salted are delicious, as is the tender chunks of pork that are the pernil. In the platter, they come with potato salad, which was creamy and had chunks of egg in there, along with rice and peas, which complimented the meat well. Chicharron con pollo is their take on fried chicken, and the bone in meat is crispy and salty and delicious. Empanadas are on the blonder side, but goes great with the sauce they provide you. Can't really go wrong, but they are definitely masters of pork, so I would recommend the pernil. Definitely would also come back to try the mofongo. Cash only!
The boy and I came here for lunch last Sunday and were blown away. The owner of the truck was working the menu and was super friendly and helpful as we decided what we wanted to order. I ordered the Chicharron de Pollo with a side of rice, potato salad, and mofongos. This is the fried chicken dish but it isn't battered like American fried chicken. However, it was still crispy and delicious! The mofongos (mashed plantains) were crazy good. They had little bits of chicharron inside them and came with a dipping broth. Finally, the potato salad added a cold, creamy element that contrasted the crispy chicken and garlicky mofongos. My boyfriend ordered the Pernil with a side of rice, yuca, and maduros. The pernil is slow roasted pork that's loaded with tasty seasonings. It was crazy tender too. The yuca was cooked perfectly. The maduros were nothing short of unreal. They make their own maduros so the cook and flavor of these sweet plantains is really on point. We also tried the two sauces they offered. One was creamy and went well with the yuca. The other had a good kick to it and went well with EVERYTHING. :) Do yourself a favor and have a bite at this food truck.
Delicious food, great service and fun ambiance!! The owner and his family are so kind and really care about your opinions. Highly recommend.
Coming here, I had to get around a bus that had just hit an electricity pole while making a turn - and here I'm hoping that the pole won't fall on me and it'll be a sign of good things to come! And then I saw this white truck that's artistically decorated on one side and bearing a large Puerto Rican flag, and plain white on the other side where the ordering happens. Hankering for some good Caribbean food, a la mode Miami, I knew I had to stop here even if only to grab a fried empanada. Approaching the menu, I realized that they had a large offering - but look around, because blackboard menu is different from the picture menu, and that is also different from the printed menu. And oddly, and happily, they're all available. Friendly José took up my order, and was eager to prepare my request of a single $2 fried beef empanada, here called pastelillo. Once served freshly prepared, I sat down and took a bite, ... and I knew I had to order more. I went back, and ordered a $10 full plate of chicharron de pollo (aka chopped fried bone-in chicken), which had been one of my favorite plates to order from a Dominican place I used to frequent in Miami. The Puerto Rican version is identical, and just as amazing as I remember it being. Flavored with the lovable sazón criollo, and prepared country-style, de estilo campestre. While eating this hearty meal, I even spotted a guy next to this truck hand-peeling the potatoes into the bucket at high noon - I don't know about you, but I found this comforting, knowing that everything here is being made from scratch. I picked a side of perfectly fried ripe sweet plantains (maduros) and the plate was accompanied by white rice, delicious and soupy red beans (habichuelas), and a lackluster salad of iceberg lettuce and tomatoes with hardly any dressing that is actually typical of the Caribbean (they just don't do salads well in most down-to-earth places in the islands, unfortunately). Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better meal, as it was more than satisfying. I actually prefer this place over the more popular Puerto Rican restaurant on Lamar in North Austin, and many other Caribbean restaurants considering that I haven't found any other place in Austin that is able to replicate the flavors that were on point. PROS: + empanadas (pastelillos) + chicharron de pollo + maduros CONS: - no fresh juices, just sodas and water bottles - side of salad (but a salad is better than no salad, for this salad-loving guy)
3 days ago
Great Puerto Rican food located in East Austin. It's a food truck in a little part of town where there are other food trucks present too. There is music and outside tables with shade. I ate the pernil plate that comes with rice and a side (I got Yucca). Also tried the chicken empanada and their plaintains. It's a great mix of food for the meal and I enjoyed how tender and tasty the pork was. Free street parking available. read more
4 months ago
I've never had pr food and it was amazing! The owners were so nice and got me samples so I could decide what I was getting. The pernil was juicy and the potato salad delicious, i felt like i was on a really especial occasion, like a holiday, that's how id describe the food I got. I also had alcapurrias and a coconut soda that was delicious and refreshing. It was a sunny day and the music they were playing was cool, made the whole vibe 10/10 read more
1 year ago
Delicious Puertorrican food and excellent service! Plato de mofongo, ensalada de papas, arroz con gandulez y carne frita deliciosooooooo y el servicio es excepcional. Les felicito Gracias Lee! Música variada read more
10 months ago
If you want to eat the best Puerto Rican food outside of San Juan, come here and meet Louis and Jose... Amazing. Good. Generous and so very reasonable. Right now it is CASH ONLY but it is so cheap and good should be no problem. Delicious and they have Pasteles this time of year. YUMMY read more
10 months ago
3 years ago
Service is great.. staff is very attentive & friendly. The location is chill but most importantly the food is banging!! You don't find many places now a days that cook from the heart. They sure do! read more
Every time I've wanted to eat here they're closed on those days, so when my friends wanted to eat out, I convinced them to come to El Coqui and no regret whatsoever (although the food coma afterwards may disagree with me. The owner is super nice too and was nice to hear his passion for his culture and exuberance at me being familiar with Puerto Rican food. It definitely translates into his food. We ordered a lot to sample, but I would definitely get the pernil and the tostones. Smashed fried plantains that are lightly salted are delicious, as is the tender chunks of pork that are the pernil. In the platter, they come with potato salad, which was creamy and had chunks of egg in there, along with rice and peas, which complimented the meat well. Chicharron con pollo is their take on fried chicken, and the bone in meat is crispy and salty and delicious. Empanadas are on the blonder side, but goes great with the sauce they provide you. Can't really go wrong, but they are definitely masters of pork, so I would recommend the pernil. Definitely would also come back to try the mofongo. Cash only! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
The boy and I came here for lunch last Sunday and were blown away. The owner of the truck was working the menu and was super friendly and helpful as we decided what we wanted to order. I ordered the Chicharron de Pollo with a side of rice, potato salad, and mofongos. This is the fried chicken dish but it isn't battered like American fried chicken. However, it was still crispy and delicious! The mofongos (mashed plantains) were crazy good. They had little bits of chicharron inside them and came with a dipping broth. Finally, the potato salad added a cold, creamy element that contrasted the crispy chicken and garlicky mofongos. My boyfriend ordered the Pernil with a side of rice, yuca, and maduros. The pernil is slow roasted pork that's loaded with tasty seasonings. It was crazy tender too. The yuca was cooked perfectly. The maduros were nothing short of unreal. They make their own maduros so the cook and flavor of these sweet plantains is really on point. We also tried the two sauces they offered. One was creamy and went well with the yuca. The other had a good kick to it and went well with EVERYTHING. :) Do yourself a favor and have a bite at this food truck. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
Delicious food, great service and fun ambiance!! The owner and his family are so kind and really care about your opinions. Highly recommend. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Coming here, I had to get around a bus that had just hit an electricity pole while making a turn - and here I'm hoping that the pole won't fall on me and it'll be a sign of good things to come! And then I saw this white truck that's artistically decorated on one side and bearing a large Puerto Rican flag, and plain white on the other side where the ordering happens. Hankering for some good Caribbean food, a la mode Miami, I knew I had to stop here even if only to grab a fried empanada. Approaching the menu, I realized that they had a large offering - but look around, because blackboard menu is different from the picture menu, and that is also different from the printed menu. And oddly, and happily, they're all available. Friendly José took up my order, and was eager to prepare my request of a single $2 fried beef empanada, here called pastelillo. Once served freshly prepared, I sat down and took a bite, ... and I knew I had to order more. I went back, and ordered a $10 full plate of chicharron de pollo (aka chopped fried bone-in chicken), which had been one of my favorite plates to order from a Dominican place I used to frequent in Miami. The Puerto Rican version is identical, and just as amazing as I remember it being. Flavored with the lovable sazón criollo, and prepared country-style, de estilo campestre. While eating this hearty meal, I even spotted a guy next to this truck hand-peeling the potatoes into the bucket at high noon - I don't know about you, but I found this comforting, knowing that everything here is being made from scratch. I picked a side of perfectly fried ripe sweet plantains (maduros) and the plate was accompanied by white rice, delicious and soupy red beans (habichuelas), and a lackluster salad of iceberg lettuce and tomatoes with hardly any dressing that is actually typical of the Caribbean (they just don't do salads well in most down-to-earth places in the islands, unfortunately). Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better meal, as it was more than satisfying. I actually prefer this place over the more popular Puerto Rican restaurant on Lamar in North Austin, and many other Caribbean restaurants considering that I haven't found any other place in Austin that is able to replicate the flavors that were on point. PROS: + empanadas (pastelillos) + chicharron de pollo + maduros CONS: - no fresh juices, just sodas and water bottles - side of salad (but a salad is better than no salad, for this salad-loving guy) read more
3 years ago
The food was sooo good!! It's a cute little food truck and they have games like corn-hole and jenga on the tables to enjoy while you wait for the food :) It was well served and the staff their was so nice!! Definitely was a 10/10!! My friend and I went and spent $36 all together for A LOT of food plus drinks so we thought it was all around GREATTT! read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
Ay. Dios. Mio. Let me tell you something. I wasn't even planning on leaving my apartment this evening, but this place popped up in my suggestions, and I made the decision to put on pants and find it. Little did I know that it was the best decision of my life. They are located in the food truck park on the corner of Cesar Chavez and Pleasant Valley Rd. There is plenty of parking. Walking up, I knew I was going to love it. Anywhere with Puerto Rican flags proudly showing has my heart! The owner was very friendly! I was super excited to learn he's from the Bronx, New York. My mother is a Brooklyn Puerto Rican and I'm missing her and her cooking like crazy, but this is a wonderful substitute. I ordered the pastelillos, the relleno, and the pernil plate. Yes. All for myself. For my drinks, I had an orange soda and a Malta. Oh my god. Every single bite was heaven! It tasted like Home. It reminded me of my mom and her side of the family, especially during Christmas time and my Abuelo would make pernil for dinner. The pernil was moist. The tostones and pastelillos were crispy. The relleno was steamy. If you want authentic Puerto Rican food, please come here and support this business. You will not regret it! Now please excuse me while I finish all my food! read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Stopped by for a quick snack and let me tell you, I'll be stopping by every time I'm in Austin I just ordered tostones & 3 empanadas (one of each meat) and they were so good especially with the spicy sauce they provided and the ketchup/mayo if I'm not mistaken. Deff check them out. read more
6 years ago
Straight from New York. The food is definitely made with lots of love. Love meeting people with a passion for food. We had the Cuban sandwich and it was soo delicious with a side of tostones (: Also some empanadas since i've been craving them ! Thank you so much ! read more
Wonderful place for Puerto Rican food! We had the empanadas, papas and plantains. All came out super rich and delicious. The guy who was running the truck even gave me a sample of the pork and rice. The service was equally outstanding! Wish I had more cash on me to get that and the mofongo! I'm looking forward to returning next time I'm in town. One trip does not do my tastebuds any justice! I'll be back! read more
6 years ago
Absolutely love this food truck! I'm so happy they changed locations too because now they're even closer! Easily the best Puerto Rican food in town, so you have to go and try it!! The chicharron de pollo is my absolute favorite too! read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
I've had this food truck on my list for years and finally got to go! It was very tasty and what you want from a food truck. The Cuban sandwich and empanada was great. The sign says cash only, but I think they took credit card from the person behind me. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
Really great service. Staff is very friendly and helpful. I got the carnitas (fried pork) which was BOMB. They have really good mojo. The hot sauce was pretty good, it does have some vinegar to it. Rice was delicious so where the tostones. Def coming back here again. read more
3 years ago
Man I wish I could give this place more than 5 stars. I was so disappointed when I found this place only because it took me so long to find some decent Rican food. I had the pernil which was way on point, the second time I went for the chicharron which were phenomenal. The people running the truck are very sociable and good people. Fun to talk too and honestly super nice even to us boricuas who have no idea what the islands are like lol. Seriously though, the food was excellent. Make sure to get the mojo for your tostones. If you don't know what that is than thank me later. They have this tangy hot sauce as well that they keep hidden and it's fire. Forget the siracha Austin, go for that stuff. They are open late and right next to a great group of bars if you don't want to over pay for food and eat great stuff stop by read more
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More info about El Coqui
2701 E Martin Luther King
Austin, TX 78702
East Austin
Directions
(512) 363-5525
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http://elcoquiatx.com
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